Flexible weeder frame



Oct. 22, c KEY FLEXIBLE WEEDER FRAME Filed March 192' 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR [hawk Z, /%2

I WOW Oct. 22, 1929. c. L. KEY 1,732,724

FLEXIBLE WEEDER FRAME Filed March 3. 192' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR (my; Z. J/g 8 52 ATTORNEY patented Oct. 22, 19 29 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 CLAUDE L. KEY, OF MILTON, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO KEY WEEDER COMPANY, 01? MILTON, OREGON, A CORPORATION OF OREGON FLEXIBLE WEEDER FRAME Application. filed March 3, 1927.

This invention relates to flexible weeder frames, and has as one of its objects to provide a weeder frame that is rigid in a horizontal plane and that is flexible in 'a vertical plane.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible weeder frame consisting of units, and jointing said units together to provide a flexibility in a vertical plane without weakening its horizontal strength.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible weeder frame whose length may he added to or decreased at will without affecting its strength.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible weeder frame which for transportation purposes may have its units separated and again joined together one behind the other, with the draft means attached to the rearmost end, of the train thus provided, and providing castor wheels disposed to facilitate movement of the train over narrow highways, through narrow gates, etc.

With these and other objects in view, reference is now had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the flexible frame;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 3is a detail of the flexible connection joining the frames;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the flexible range of the joint,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear elevation of two units of the frame showing its flexibility under certain conditions;

,, Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 5, showing its flexibility under other conditions; and

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view showing the forward beam, the means of support, the cutting blade, the gooseneck, the end bar and the cross member of the device.

Having reference to the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and the numeral 1 refers to the flexible weeder frame in its entirety, while the numeral 2 refers to the units.

The frame lwill be considered as a truss, and so explained, and the terms used will be used interchangeably to designate either truss members or weeder frame members, as for Serial No. 172,316.

instance a center bar may be termed a vertical, etc.

Each unit consists of a laterally positioned frame member 3, preferably supported by wheels 4L distributed on said frame member in a manner to avoid longitudinal and diagonal members (to be explained), with goosenecks 5 rigidly attached to said frame and carry ing on their lower ends a cutting blade 6 rigidly attached thereto in the usual man ner of such construction, with each unit being provided with its own draft means represented by the chains 7.

The units 2 are placed end to end and their frame member 3 is utilized in connection with the other parts of the flexible frame 1 to form a forward beam 8, the forward beam comprising a plurality of said frame members joined together by a jointed means extending from the units, including the forward beam 8, and in addition thereto a rear beam 9 consisting of cross members 10 which are positioned to extend from a point opposite the center of one unit to a point opposite the center of the adjacent unit, tooonnect the units together centrally, with the cross members 10 jointedly attached together for flexibility in a vertical plane by clevises 11 or other means which secure the cross members to center bars 12 which now form a sort of thrust bar between the forward and rear beams. j

The center bars 12 may be rigidly or hingedly attached to thecenter of theframe members 8 and, extending rearwardly, the center bar acts as a pin to a hinge and passes through the clevises 11 mentioned for the purpose, thus completing the joints of the rear beam and providing a flexibility to that member in a vertical plane and opposite the center of the respective units.

By this means it will be noted that the frame may noweitherrock with said center bar 12, in the clevises, or may have a vertical movement irrespective of the adjacent unit, within restricted limits determined by a flexible connection to be described presently.

As before mentioned the center bar 12 ex? end of one of the cross members 10, this cross member being maintained horizontally in a fixed position by the center bar of the adjacent unit, therefore, to prevent a tendency of the unit to rotate in a horizontal plane at end bar 13 is provided which is hingedly attached to the center of the cross member and, extending forward, connects to the inner end 14 of the frame, thereby preventing the tendency of the unit to rotate, and also to act as a brace for the extended portion 14 of the units.

The outer ends 15 of the units arebraced by diagonal members 16 extending therefrom to the center bar 12; to which it may be rigidly or flexibly connected.

The end bars 13 and the diagonals 16 are p s t oned n pp sit nd of he ni n the units are constructed with the diagonals away from the center of the flexible frame 1 so that on the end units the diagonals form outside members and thus provide clearance: between the ends of the outer units and the rear end of the center bar, and this arrangement provides for the two end bars 13 being adjacently positioned in the center of theflexible frame where both end bars are positioned side by side.

a this means right and left hand sections are provided and where two sections only are used a naturally supportedstructure is provided to which 'a third section may be added without aflecting the strength of the struc- Wife, f llf ie ti be a e n h opposite end, as shown in Fig. 1, by which meansit is plain that any number of units may be utilized within the power of the draft means.

To, prevent the forward beam spreading, i, e the frames 3 ofthe. units parting at their adjacent ends, a flexible connection 17 is provided and this connection consists of a bolt 18 which passes through the bar forming the item 3. Of th un e i en a d a 11 7 i9 mounted on the bolt, while a connecting piece 20, provided with orifices 21 having a greater.- diameter than the spacer, is mounted un nth e-b l s- 7 Now by consideration of Fig. 1, in view of Eig. 3.5. it will be seen that there is ample play for arestri cted movement of either unit in a vertical plane, whether to the position shown in Fig. 5where one section is shown as operatingfon higher ground, than the otherrsection, or whereone of the sections has a partial rotating or rocking movementas illusew by dis onne t i s a lBVis a d fleXible tratcd in Fig. 6.

I ccup ling one unit may be removed and, conversiglyasection or sections may be added bv cgnesstinar ha erase m m er n the rear beam by the clevis and coupling the units together by the coupling means.

Obviously castor wheels 22 will support the rear end of the center bars and likewise the cross members.

lVith the frame in readiness it may now be moved over the ground by any suitable draft means and its flexibility will provide for thorough and accurate work by maintaining the blades in the ground in conformity to the actual surface conditions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a flexible weeder frame, a plurality of units, each unit comprising a frame member, means to support said member, and a cutting blade attached to said member, a flexible forward beam formed of said frame members, a flexible rear beam formed of joined cross members extended from center to center of said frame members, pivotal center bars flexibly connecting the forward and rear beams, and pivotally joining said cross members, means to support said rear beam, means to prevent a rotative movement of said units in a horizontal plane and means to restrict the rotative movement of said units in a vertical plane.

2. In a flexible weeder frame, a plurality of units, each unit comprising a frame member, means to support said member, and a cutting blade attached to said member, a flexible forward beam formed by said frame members, a flexible rear beam' comprising joined cross members, and pivotal center bars attached to and extended rearward from the center of said units, and provided with a rear support adapted to support said rear beam, and forming a pivotal mounting for the joints of said rear beam.

8. In a flexible weeder frame, a plurality of units, each unit comprising a frame member, means to support said member, and a cutting blade attached tov said member, a flexible forward beam formed by said frame members, a flexible rear beam: comprising pivotally joined cross members, and pivotal center bars attached to and extended rearward from the center of said units, and forming a pivotal mounting for the joints of said rear beam to provide for pivotal movement of the units and means to support said rear beam.

4. In a flexible weeder frame, a plurality of units, each unit comprising a frame member, means to support said member, and a cutting blade attached to said member, a flexible forward beam formed by the joining of said frame members, a flexible rear beam comprising pivotally joined cross members extended from center to center of the outside units, pivotal center bars attached to and extended rearward from the center of said frame members and forming a pivotal connection for the joints of said rear beam,

to provide for pivotal movement of the units, means to support said rear beam, and brace members attached to said frame to prevent a rotative movement in a horizontal plane of said unit.

5. In a flexible weeder frame, a plurality of units, each unit comprising a frame member, means to support said member, and a cutting blade attached to said member, a flexible forward beam formed by the oining of said frame members, a flexible rear beam comprising pivotally joined cross members, and positioned With the joints of said rear frame opposite the center of the frame members, pivotal center bars attached to and ex tended rearward from said frame members to provide for pivotal movement of said units, means to support said rear beam, diagonal braces secured to said center bars and the outer ends of said units, and adapted to rotate therewith, and end bars flexibly connecting the free ends of said frame members and said rear beam.

6. In a flexible weeder frame, a plurality of units, each unit comprising a frame me1nber, means to support said member, and a cutting blade attached to said member, a flexible forward beam formed by the joining of said frame members, a flexible rear beam comprising pivotally joined cross members extended from center to center of the outside units, pivotal center bars attached to and extended rearward from the center of said frame members, and pivotally associated with said rear beam to provide for pivotal movement of the units, means to support the rear end of said center bar and said rear beam, brace members adapted to prevent rotative movement in a horizontal plane of said units and comprising diagonal braces secured to said center bars and to the outer ends of said units, and end bars flexibly connecting the free ends of said units to said rear beam, and means to restrict the pivotal movement of said units.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CLAUDE L. KEY. 

